At a Chicago press conference held on May 7, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced his plan for a tax incentive that hopes to entice Hollywood television and film production back to Illinois. Sponsored by Representative Skip Saviano, the proposed bill would provide a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the wages paid to Illinois residents working on television and film projects shot in the state. If passed for 2004, the plan is projected to draw in at least seven new major film deals, create 1,281 jobs and generate $98.4 million in direct expenditures. Blagojevich also introduced the Illinois Visual Media Task Force, created under his administration to “recommend steps the state can take to expand its visual media infrastructure.” The task force—chaired by Jack Lavin, the director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity—will work on attracting visual media suppliers to the area to counter the Panavision move to Dallas last year and keep local talent from fleeing to either coast. Stay tuned to PI for more updates or visit the Illinois Production Alliance Web site at www.illinoisproduction.org.

Tenner Paskal Rudnicke are conducting a search for a very bright, very mature 10 year old boy for the independent feature King of the Tango, shooting in Chicago. And they are still scouting for the Morgan Freeman feature Straight Up. Commercial projects they are casting include Cedar Point Amusement Park, Quaker Oats, Phillips, COPD, Goodwill, White Sox and Nintendo. Booked for McDonalds were: Rafeal Corrales, Beverly Tomek, Kevin Fleming, Ann Whitney, David Saunders, Evan Dollard, Kyle Robinson and Danielle Day.

And word from Simon Casting is that they are working on a reality show called “Looking For Love” and casting Metamorphoses for St. Louis Rep and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Sara of the Lily’s agency is leaving for Los Angeles at the end of the month. They have added a new print agent, Erika Strickmaker, to replace Heidi who is assuming the departing Sara’s on-camera duties. Got all that? And the bookings: commercials went to Pat Martin, Audrey Allen, Peter Ruskin, Ann Svane, Mia Park, Alvaro Barragan, Bernard Mixon, Roddy Chiong, Jenny Januszewski, Liz Isibue, Fiona Brogni, Karen Weinberg, Franklin Jones, Jeff Jacinto, Torrence Murphy, Bob Guthrie, Joslyn Housley, Loree Vick, Jim Goss, Richard Kimoto, Percy Smith, Allen Alvarado, Marri Gragnani, Lisa Digangi, Helen Yongb, Paul Quaintance, Francis Polo, William Sherry, Michelle Williams and Rachel Stuart. Mitsuko Olson booked an industrial and voice-overs went to Loree Vick, Charin Alvarez, Sonal Shah, Cesar Jaime, Shelly Sproule, Bob Lorenz and Elaine Wong. Joe Keller and Mark Stephen were cast in an independent film.

Peace.